Crosby, Alfred W. "Infectious Disease and the Demography of the Atlantic Peoples." Journal of World History 2, no. 2 (1991): 119-33. (pdf)

Potential Discussion Questions

1)      Overall, what is your impression of Crosby’s article? Did he use the concept of the Atlantic world as found in our essential question?

2) What is Crosby's argument? What is new about what he is saying here? How does Crosby say that his argument differs from that of other historians? What branch and concepts does Crosby use?

3)      Is Crosby right to say that he does not think that the Spanish wanted the Amerinds to die? (p.122)

4) Why is Crosby considered by some to be the father of environmental history?

5) What evidence does Crosby use to make his points?

6) What do you think of the list of diseases included on p. 123? Any surprises?

7) How did Amerindian populations change after the Columbian Contact?

8) Do you see any problems with Crosby's estimation of pre-Columbian populations?

9) What role did technology play in the changing Atlantic World? (p. 121)

10) How did the Spanish make money off their colonies in America?

11) What is an encomienda? What is a hacienda?

12) How did the Spanish react to the death of their workers? Did this reaction change as the shortage continued?

13) What was the impact of the "labor shortage?"

14) How did the mass migrations of people across the Atlantic change over time?

15) Why were African slaves, of all possible sources for workers, brought to America? Why did this trade continue for 300+ years?

16) What was the big shift in labor migrations during the 17-1800s?

17) How did the Columbian Exchange impact European populations and why? How did this compare with the Amerind population change?

18) What was the greatest advantage the conquistadores had in their conquest of America?

19) What is the "Caucasian tidal wave" Crosby refers to on pp. 132-3 and why did it matter?

20) How can you use this to address the essential question?

21) Which primary sources help with this article?